Journalist @baltimoresun writer artist runner #amwriting Chaplain PIO #partylikeajournalist

Journalist @baltimoresun writer artist runner #amwriting Chaplain PIO #partylikeajournalist
Journalist @baltimoresun writer artist runner #amwriting Md Troopers Assoc #20 & Westminster Md Fire Dept Chaplain PIO #partylikeajournalist

Sunday, November 26, 2017

Lois and Deacon Craig Giles at Shepherd's Staff’s Carroll County Festival of Trees

Lois and Deacon Craig Giles at Shepherd's Staff's Carroll County Festival of Trees in downtown Westminster at John Street Quarters, 28 John Street, at the Westminster Vol. Fire Department Sat. 25Nov2017

Saturday, November 25, 2017

We really enjoyed Shepherd's Staff’s Carroll County Festival of Trees in downtown Westminster at John Street Quarters

We really enjoyed Shepherd's Staff's Carroll County Festival of Trees in downtown Westminster at John Street Quarters, 28 John Street, at the Westminster Vol. Fire Department Sat. 25Nov2017. The exhibit continues through tomorrow.

Wednesday, November 22, 2017

Members of the Westminster Fire Dept. tape a number of holiday public fire safety spots for WTTR

Members of the Westminster Fire Dept. tape a number of holiday public fire safety spots for WTTR 21Nov2017


On Tuesday, Jamie, Colby, and Brynn Petry, Bob, Cumberland, Caroline Babylon, and Kevin Dayhoff got together at WTTR to tape a number of holiday public fire safety spots, to be aired on the radio throughout December. It was great working at the station with Kevin Ashcraft and Donna Jean Shybunko. 21Nov2017. For more information go to the Westminster Fire Engine and Hose Co. No. 1 Facebook page here: https://www.facebook.com/groups/Westminster.Vol.Fire.Dept/

Westminster City Hall and Westminster at night

Westminster City Hall and Westminster at night. 22Nov2017

The Cats of Charles Wysocki at the Westminster Fire Department

The Cats of Charles Wysocki at the Westminster Fire Department 22Nov2017

Three red ambulances

Three red ambulances. Finally, after, like forever, the Westminster Vol. Fire Dept. has three working red ambulances at the same time. 22Nov2017

Monday, November 20, 2017

The throes of a full-fledged peanut butter emergency

Caroline and I are in the throes of a full-fledged peanut butter emergency. 20Nov2017

Bangkok firefighters on front line of city's snake scourge


No thanks, I think I’ll pass - - Bangkok firefighters on front line of city's snake scourge

By TASSANEE VEJPONGSA, ASSOCIATED PRESS BANGKOK — Nov 14, 2017, 11:15 PM ET

When the latest distress call came into Phinyo Pukphinyo's fire station in Bangkok, it was not about a burning home or office building. Instead, the caller needed urgent help with a far more common problem facing Thailand's capital: snakes.

A 2-meter (10-foot) -long python was dangling from the caller's garage roof, and after rushing to the scene, it took Phinyo less than a minute to remove the slithering reptile.



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Sunday, November 19, 2017

Sat. evening Grammy, Caroline and I enjoyed going out to IHOP for dinner

Sat. evening Grammy, Caroline and I enjoyed going out to IHOP for dinner. Our server was Cierra. Not only was her service great, but she was friendly. We also enjoyed talking with the manager. We always look forward to having dinner at IHOP. We will be back soon. 18Nov2017

We were not alone on Sat. when Caroline and I took our walk

We were not alone on Sat. when Caroline and I took our walk on the Wakefield Valley Trail. 18nov2017

Ellen Lichtfuss and Kyle Sherfey help lead the Sunday service at Grace Lutheran Church

Ellen Lichtfuss and Kyle Sherfey help lead the Sunday service at Grace Lutheran Church. www.gracelc.org 19Nov2017

Friday, November 17, 2017

Baltimore Police Department Detective Sean Suiter has died


Baltimore Police Department Detective Sean Suiter has died

Nov. 16, 2017 by Chaplain Kevin Dayhoff

On Nov. 16, 2016 Detective Sean Suiter, 43, an 18-year veteran of the Baltimore Police Department, succumbed to a gunshot wound sustained on Nov. 15, 2017, while attempting to interview a person during a homicide investigation in the 900 block of Bennett Place in Baltimore, MD. 

According to numerous media accounts, including the Officer Down Memorial Page, and the Baltimore Sun, “he and his partner were canvassing the area when he observed a man attempting to hide in an alley. He notified his partner and then approached the man to speak to him. The subject produced a handgun and opened fire, striking Detective Suiter in the head.

“Detective Suiter was placed in a patrol car to be transported to University of Maryland Medical Center. During the transport the patrol car was struck by another vehicle. Detective Suiter was then transferred to another vehicle and transported to the hospital where he remained on life support until succumbing to the wound the following day.

“The man who shot him fled the scene and remains at large.

“Detective Suiter had served with the Baltimore Police Department for 18 years and was assigned to the Homicide Unit.”


Please join me in a prayer for Baltimore Police Department Detective Sean Suiter:

Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of god. Matthew 5:9 Rest peacefully Detective Suiter in the presence of God.

We are praying for your family, loved ones, friends, colleagues, and fellow officers. Rest in peace brother, your watch is over we will take it from here, you duty is done here, God has your place in heaven.

Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. John 15:13

Chaplain Kevin Dayhoff 16Nov2017
Maryland Troopers Association Lodge #20
Westminster Fire Engine and Hose Company No. 1

Photo of Detective Suiter courtesy of the Officer Down Memorial Page





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Glucosamine and Chondroitin for Osteoarthritis

Glucosamine and Chondroitin for Osteoarthritis


I was considering starting to take this over the counter medication for knees and hips that are getting old – and came across this information….. Oh, the NIH says on the website, “This publication is not copyrighted and is in the public domain. Duplication is encouraged.” 15Nov2017 https://kevindayhoff.blogspot.com/2017/11/glucosamine-and-chondroitin-for.html


On This Page


What’s the Bottom Line?

How much do we know about glucosamine and chondroitin supplements?

  • We have some information about the safety and usefulness of glucosamine and chondroitin from large, high-quality studies in people.

What do we know about the effectiveness of glucosamine and chondroitin supplements?

  • Research results suggest that chondroitin isn’t helpful for pain from osteoarthritis of the knee or hip.
  • It’s unclear whether glucosamine helps with osteoarthritis knee pain or whether either supplement lessens osteoarthritis pain in other joints.

What do we know about the safety of glucosamine and chondroitin supplements?

  • Studies have found that glucosamine and chondroitin supplements may interact with the anticoagulant (blood-thinning) drug warfarin (Coumadin). Overall, studies have not shown any other serious side effects.
  • If you take glucosamine or chondroitin supplements, tell your health care providers. They can do a better job caring for you if they know what dietary supplements you use.

What Are Glucosamine and Chondroitin?

Glucosamine and chondroitin are structural components of cartilage, the tissue that cushions the joints. Both are produced naturally in the body. They are also available as dietary supplements. Researchers have studied the effects of these supplements, individually or in combination, on osteoarthritis, a common type of arthritis that destroys cartilage in the joints.
More information

What the Science Says About Glucosamine and Chondroitin for Osteoarthritis

For the Knee or Hip

Glucosamine

Major studies of glucosamine for osteoarthritis of the knee have had conflicting results.
More information
  • A large National Institutes of Health (NIH) study, called the Glucosamine/chondroitin Arthritis Intervention Trial (GAIT), compared glucosamine hydrochloride, chondroitin, both supplements together, celecoxib (a prescription drug used to manage osteoarthritis pain), or a placebo (an inactive substance) in patients with knee osteoarthritis. Most participants in the study had mild knee pain.
    • Those who received the prescription drug had better short-term pain relief (at 6 months) than those who received a placebo.
    • Overall, those who received the supplements had no significant improvement in knee pain or function, although the investigators saw evidence of improvement in a small subgroup of patients with moderate-to-severe pain who took glucosamine and chondroitin together.
    • For more information on the trial, see the NCCIH Web page.
  • In several European studies, participants reported that their knees felt and functioned better after taking glucosamine. The study participants took a large, once-a-day dose of a preparation of glucosamine sulfate sold as a prescription drug in Europe.
  • Researchers don’t know why the results of these large, well-done studies differ. It may be because of differences in the types of glucosamine used (glucosamine hydrochloride in the NIH study vs. glucosamine sulfate in the European studies), differences in the way they were administered (one large daily dose in the European studies vs. three smaller ones in the NIH study), other differences in the way the studies were done, or chance.

Chondroitin

In general, research on chondroitin has not shown it to be helpful for pain from knee or hip osteoarthritis.
More information
  • More than 20 studies have looked at the effect of chondroitin on pain from knee or hip osteoarthritis. The quality of the studies varied and so did the results. However, the largest and best studies (including the NIH study discussed under the heading “Glucosamine” above) showed that chondroitin doesn’t lessen osteoarthritis pain.

Joint Structure

A few studies have looked at whether glucosamine or chondroitin can have beneficial effects on joint structure. Some but not all studies found evidence that chondroitin might help, but the improvements may be too small to make a difference to patients. There is little evidence that glucosamine has beneficial effects on joint structure.

Experts’ Recommendations

Experts disagree on whether glucosamine and chondroitin may help knee and hip osteoarthritis. The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) has recommended that people with knee or hip osteoarthritis not use glucosamine or chondroitin. But the recommendation was not a strong one, and the ACR acknowledged that it was controversial.

For Other Parts of the Body

Only a small amount of research has been done on glucosamine and chondroitin for osteoarthritis of joints other than the knee and hip. Because there have been only a few relatively small studies, no definite conclusions can be reached.
More information
  • Chondroitin for osteoarthritis of the hand
    A 6-month trial of chondroitin in 162 patients with severe osteoarthritis of the hand showed that it may improve pain and function.
  • Glucosamine for osteoarthritis of the jaw
    One study of 45 patients with osteoarthritis of the jaw showed that those given glucosamine had less pain than those given ibuprofen. But another study, which included 59 patients with osteoarthritis of the jaw, found that those taking glucosamine did no better than those taking a placebo (pills that don’t contain the active ingredient).
  • Glucosamine for chronic low-back pain and osteoarthritis of the spine
    A Norwegian trial involving 250 people with chronic low-back pain and osteoarthritis of the lower spine found that participants who received glucosamine fared the same at 6 months as those who received placebo.

What the Science Says About Safety and Side Effects

  • No serious side effects have been reported in large, well-conducted studies of people taking glucosamine, chondroitin, or both for up to 3 years.
  • However, glucosamine or chondroitin may interact with the anticoagulant (blood-thinning) drug warfarin (Coumadin).
  • A study in rats showed that long-term use of moderately large doses of glucosamine might damage the kidneys. Although results from animal studies don’t always apply to people, this study does raise concern.
  • Glucosamine might affect the way your body handles sugar, especially if you have diabetes or other blood sugar problems, such as insulin resistance or impaired glucose tolerance.
More information
If you use dietary supplements, such as glucosamine and chondroitin, read and follow the label instructions, and recognize that “natural” does not always mean “safe.”
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulates dietary supplements, but the regulations for dietary supplements are different and less strict than those for prescription or over-the-counter drugs.
Some dietary supplements may interact with medications or pose risks if you have medical problems or are going to have surgery. Most dietary supplements have not been tested in pregnant women, nursing mothers, or children.
For more information, see Using Dietary Supplements Wisely.

More to Consider

  • If your joints hurt, see your health care provider. It’s important to find out what’s causing your joint pain. Some diseases that cause joint pain—such as rheumatoid arthritis—may need immediate treatment.
  • If you take warfarin or have blood sugar problems, make sure you talk to your doctor about potential side effects if you are considering or taking glucosamine or chondroitin supplements.
  • If you’re pregnant or nursing a child, it’s especially important to see your health care provider before taking any medication or supplement, including glucosamine or chondroitin.
  • Help your health care providers give you better coordinated and safe care by telling them about all the health approaches you use. Give them a full picture of what you do to manage your health.

Key References

Other References

Acknowledgments

NCCIH thanks the following people for their technical expertise and review of this publication: Daniel Clegg, M.D., University of Utah; Marc Hochberg, M.D., M.P.H., University of Maryland; Julian Leakey, Ph.D., U.S. Food and Drug Administration; Allen Sawitzke, M.D., University of Utah; and Partap Khalsa, D.C., Ph.D., and John (Jack) Killen, Jr., M.D., NCCIH.
* Note: PDF files require a viewer such as the free Adobe Reader(link is external).
This publication is not copyrighted and is in the public domain. Duplication is encouraged.
NCCIH has provided this material for your information. It is not intended to substitute for the medical expertise and advice of your primary health care provider. We encourage you to discuss any decisions about treatment or care with your health care provider. The mention of any product, service, or therapy is not an endorsement by NCCIH.
NCCIH Pub No.: 
D486
Last Updated: 
November 2014
This page last modified September 24, 2017
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Wednesday, November 15, 2017

Critical Incident Preparedness training for local church leaders

Critical Incident Preparedness training for local church leaders hosted by Carroll County Sheriff DeWees, Carroll County Sheriff's Office, and Sgt. Zepp at the Carroll County Public Safety Training Center. 15Nov2017

Sunday, November 12, 2017

After Caroline and left the American Legion this afternoon, we took carnations over to the Carroll County Vietnam Memorial

After Caroline and left the American Legion this afternoon, we took carnations over to the Carroll County Vietnam Memorial and said a prayer for Vets Day. 11Nov2017

Caroline and I attended the American Legion Carroll Post No. 31 Veterans Day ceremonies

Caroline and I attended the American Legion Carroll Post No. 31 Veterans Day ceremonies at the Armory - Westminster Longwell Family Center with folks such as Del. Haven Shoemaker and Westminster Council President Dr. Wack. Sat. Nov. 11, 2017 at 1 p.m.

Friday, November 10, 2017

Caroline and I took the Opiate Overdose Rescue Training

Caroline and I took the Opiate Overdose Rescue Training on Thursday, November 9th, 2017 1-3 pm in Grace Hall at Grace Lutheran Church.


We took the training along with many community leaders, including folks like Rev. Malcolm Stranathan, Rev. Marty Kuchma, Sue Thomas, Marian Shipley, Ted Dix, and Ronnie Wantz, among others.


The workshop was hosted by Families against the Stigma of Addiction, Inc. in partnership with Carroll County Health Department. Our trainers were Heather Asbury, Linda Auerback, Beth Schmidt, and Michelle McVay.


The training was excellent. The purpose of the training was to teach participants about opioids and their effects, how to recognize and respond to an overdose, how to administer Intra-nasal Naloxone, the Good Samaritan Law and other resources.


Hat Tip to Pastors Martha and Kevin Clementson for helping to make the training session happen.